Marvel Cinematic Universe

Abstract: I would examine the gender representations in the Iron Man trilogy (2008, 2010, 2013) not as demonstration of patriarchal power, but as masculinity in crisis, a masculinity undermined by its excessive technological look and its status as a constructed fabrication. A close analysis of the three texts and a special focus on gender representations will demonstrate how the technological subjectivity of Iron Man and the ironic performance by Robert Downey Jr. actually undermines the surface super-masculinity of the character. Finally, some general conclusion from the above analysis will be drawn.

Abstract: Iron Man represents a return to a frontier mythology that is not a restoration of the original myth. He embraces independence and hard work, but he avoids Stark's narcissism and greed. His intelligence sets him apart, but he uses his knowledge for progress rather than personal gain. Most importantly, he reminds us that although traditional heroism has a place, the world also needs a hero unafraid of dirtying his hands. He embodies the need for freedom, and he assures us that frontiers still exist. Iron Man—a character that embraces some aspects of traditional American national identity while rejecting others—pushes for a fundamental transformation of American identity fit for the twenty‐first century.